Construction Breaks Ground on 925-unit Multifamily Project in Long Island City

March 4 marked the official groundbreaking of the initial phase of Hunter’s Point South, the biggest affordable housing project in New York City in 40 years. A $332 million joint venture between Phipps Houses, Related Companies, and Monadnock Construction, the project is located on a 30-acre site on the Long Island City waterfront in Queens.

March 4 marked the official groundbreaking of the initial phase of Hunter’s Point South, the biggest affordable housing project in New York City in 40 years. A $332 million joint venture between Phipps Houses, Related Companies and Monadnock Construction, the project is located on a 30-acre site on the Long Island City waterfront in Queens.

Phase I of the Hunter’s Point South project was designed by SHoP Architects and Ismael Levya Architects to achieve LEED Silver certification and consists of two residential buildings—32 and 37 stories each—with 925 permanently affordable apartments targeted to low-, moderate- and middle-income families.

The project also includes 17,000 square feet of retail space, a five-acre waterfront park and a new school with 1,100 seats which, according to The Epoch Times, is under construction and should be open by September.

Both buildings will feature public terraces, a fitness center, tech center, play space for children, recreational space and bike storage. The 37-story Building A, which will be located at 1-50 50th Ave., will consist of 165 studio, 205 one-, 214 two- and 35 three-bedroom units; 13,739 square feet of retail space; and a 220-space parking garage. Located at 1-55 Borden Ave., the 32-story Building B will include 100 studios, 82 one-, 101 two- and 23 three-bedroom units and around 3,000 square feet of retail space.

The first residents are expected to move in the two buildings in 2014, with construction fully compete in 2015.